Court and traffic marker



Oct. 24, 1933. G. L. LANE 1,931,848

COURT AND TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Aug. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Geo geLlIan e,

ORNEY Oct. 24, 1933. e. L/LANE 1,931,848

COURT AND TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Aug. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Geo%llzane,

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A TORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,931,848 v COURT AND TRAFFIC MARKER George L. Lane, Ardmore, :Pa. I

Application August 18, 1932. Serial No. 629,316

4 Claims. 1 (Cl. 9139) The object of the invention is to provide improvements in markers broadly, but more especially in devices of thischaracter which are used to mark the outlines. and playing areas of tennis 5 courts, baseball diamonds, football gridirons, and the like, and which can also be used for marking the trafiic lines upon road surfaces. I g

A further object is to provide. in. such a device the combination of what will be termed a rotary l0 marking element and a trailing or frictional marker element, with independent means to control the flow of the usual paint ormarking fluid to them, which means howeverare usually actuated in'unison, together with other details adapted to facilitate the general operation of the device, such as providing common means to regulate the flow of the marking fluid to the brush to depress or elevate the brush in substantial unison but as hereinafter described.

V In order to better understand the invention, it should be stated that while it is known to be old to use a rotary marking element alone, and also old to use a trailing or frictional marking element alone, so far as is known it is .novel to operatively combine the two elements in a single marker, so as to receive the marking fluid simultaneously from a single'reservoir..

Among the advantages of this combination,

. hereinafter more fully brought out, is that when operated simultaneously, the surface of the rotary element receives the fluid and presses it well against and into the surface of the ground, whether the latter is covered with grass or not,

whereupon the under surface of. the other ele ment brushes or lightly drags over the newly wetted surface and simultaneously sheds from its upper surface a constant flow of the marking fluid, while the first application by the rotary element is still wet, thus insuring a more dense and lasting double application of the fluid, than is possible if either, of the two elements were to pass twice over the playing or road surface in order to apply a double coat of the fluid thereto,

besides the fact that it is very difficult if not impossible in practice to apply a secondcoat over and in exact alignment with or superposed upon a first coat previously deposited by the same or a different device.

Still other objects are, to provide a novel means hereinafter brought out in detail in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical front to rear section of a marker comprising one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the trailing brush element; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of the same in depressed or operative position. v

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention comprises a tank formed of a cylindrical major portion 1, which in turn comprises the diagonally upward andrearward continuation 7 of the similarly shaped sides 2 of a lower casting, which is closedby a bottom Wall 3. This tank is positioned between a pair of substantially parallel longitudinally extending frame members 4, which adjacent to the upper limit of said cylindrical 7 portion diverge at 5 andhave secured to their angularly free end portions 6 manually engageable handles 7 of any suitablesize, shape, and convenient arrangement. From substantially the central portions of said frame members 4 there 8 extend downwardly and rearwardly a pair of additional frame members 8, which are preferably substantially parallel in arrangementand support between their lower free end portions an axle 9, upon the opposite end portions of which are mounted wheels 10. In order to make this frame structure rigid, afurther pair of spaced substantially parallel and practically horizontally extend- 7 ing members 11 connect the lower portions of the first-named frame members 4 with the second set of frame members 8, preferably above the level of the wheels 10, thereby providing a substantially rigid triangular unit frame structure, which may be secured to said tank or reservoir in any suitable manner.

' To the outer surface of the bottom wall 3 of said tank is secured any suitable shape of 'bifur cated bracket 12, between the spaced outer free end portions of which is rotatably positioneda marker wheel 13,operative1ysupported upon apin or shaft'l. Above the upper central portion of said marker wheel is positioned a valve 15,- which leads from the interior of said tank through an aperture 16 and is adapted to discharge a relatively slender stream of marking fluid upon the outersurface of said last-named'wheel, under the'control of a valve lever 1'7, from whicha rod 18 extends to a point adjacent to one of the handles 7. Each of these handles is provided with a depending apertured lug 19 which pivotally supports a suitable trigger or bell crank lever 20, one arm of which is in one instance connected to the rod 18 and in the other instance, adjacent to the other of said handles, is connected to a rod 21, which leads toward and is pivotally attached to the operating lever 22 of a second valve 23, which also connects with the interior of said tank through a suitable aperture 24, and is adapted to discharge .a relatively slender stream. of ,markin fluid downwardly and rearwardly, as hereinafter described.

Each of the arms of the bell crank-levers '20, to which the rods 18 and 21 are connected, is also connected by means of a spring 25 to an adjacent portion of the side frame membersdeoithatzthe valves 15 and 23 are normally closed, andare opened by manual engagement of one or more fingers of each hand withztheadependingaarmsaof the respective bell crank levers 20, thereby permitting the opening of the valves simultaneously or independently of .eaoh other and to varying degrees when and .as, may be desired.

The llowerportion .of the tank or reservoir is provided with a pair of spaced depending ilugs 2.6,1between which is pivotally mounted a dischargetrough 27 shownspeciiicallyin Figs. 4 and 5. This trough primarily comprises a bottom wall 28, from which risearear wall v29 .and 'la'terally opposite side walls .30, while the rearmost edge portion of saidbottom wall is unobstructed, so as to freely dischargetherefrom markingfluid, which falls .upon said wall from the valve .23. To the under .sideo'f said bottom wall there is secured in anysuitable manner,,asiby means of a screw .31, the handle portion '32 of a brush 33, or in fact any other suitabledevice adapted to reoeive such marking fluid .uponits'upper surface and ,disrihargesuh fluidfrom itsrearmost trailins edge portion, after its lower surface has trailed upon the surface of the ground, whenin normal operation as shown in'Fig. .6.

.It willbe noted that the upper surface of the bottom ,wall128of thedischargeltrough 2,7 is preferably provided withaplurality of .ribs or ..corrugations 3.4;, the purpose of which is to control and equalize .the flow of marking fluid towards and longitudinallyacross the upper surface ofthe exposed portion of the brush '33, so that the .line, ribbon, or band of paint or other marking fflui'd left by the improved marker to the rear of said brush .willbe asnearly uniformas possible in thickness and free from 'lines, which would be caused by the brush were the latter to pass frictionally over the .fluidafterhaving been depDsited upon the ground surfacelinsteadof the'fluid flowing over and freely away from said brush.

.-It is to be understood, furthermore, that'in referring to .a brush, any suitable element adaptablefor .this purpose is anticipated, such for in stance as a relatively flexible spatula, which might-be formed of thin flexible metal, suchas steel, .or might be formed of rubber or the like. It .will also be noted that the valve lever '22 is connected by means of ,a chainB i or the like to a suitable portion of said discharge trough, as for instance to one of the side walls ,30 thereof, and that ,in operating the rod 21, the brush 33 is lowered into operative .position in frictional contact .with the ground surface before there has been sufficient movement of said valve lever to permit the flow .of .marking fluid through said valve. Thus, .the flow of such -:fluid'is positively shut off by .a reverse movement of the rod .21, beforesaidbrush israised freely above the ground 1 surface, it being :also possible when .desired to first shut off the flow of fluid through the valve 23 and continue to permit the brush to contact with the ground, before raising the brush freely therefrom, in order that the fluid last discharged and dripping from said valve shall have a full opportunity to reach and pass from the free edge portion of the brush, before the latter is raised.

In addition to the structure thus described, there ,may be ,positioned in the upper .free end portion .of saiditan-k a cylindrical closure'35, the side walls of which preferably terminate in a diagonal plane defined by inturned flanges 36, across and between which extends a metal gauze 37, adapted to strain and remove solid particles ifrom the :marizing fluid as it is poured into the, tank thru this cylindrical closure. Also, in order toprevent-any splash of the fluid, as it encounters the lower portion of the side walls of the tank or fluid previously placed therein, a preferably flexible bafiie plate 38 extends diagonally into said tank below the gauze 3'7, and is secured in any suitable manner at one peripheral portion'39, substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of this marker, it i's fofcourse obvious that either of the valves '15 and 23.1nay be opened independently of the other, as well as being-adapted to open concurrently for the simultaneous deposition of marking 'fiuid. However, it is to be understood that the latter method of operation is by no means a mere duplication, or doubling-up, of the former for several reae sons. In'the first place,'by operatively associating the two types of fluid-depositing mechanism in the same apparatus, positive alignment of the two applications is assured,.so that the second is certain vof being placed directly upon and in registry with the first.

In the second place, by opening the forward valve 15 and permitting the brush 33 to trail lightly upon the band of fluid-deposited by the wheel '13, Without opening the rearward valve a certain smoothing of theband of'but onecoat is possible. Then again, by opening the rear valve in addition to the front valve itis possible to apply a second coat of the inarkingfluid before the first coat dries. Also, by so doing it is obvious that, as for instance uponground which has not been previously marked, the first coat will serve as a so-called filler coat,shortly' after which the second coat willbe applied without any semblance of scraping, wiping or brushing operation as such. "This'is by reason of the fact that the brush wipes and smoothesover only the first coat, immediately prior to its applying the second coat, by merely flowing the 'latterevenly upon the former. Still again, it is possible, if desired, to use the wheel '13, with the forward valve 15 ,closed, as a roller for pressing, firmingdown, or rolling the turf, in preparation for the coat of marking fluid to be flowed upon same by the brush. However, the advantages of this composite structure and its operation are prol ablybest seen whenjrnarking a grass surface, in which case the pressure of the fiuid-wetted wheel 13 first upon the grass both wets the latter down to the surface of the ground. and flexes the blades of grass forwardly so as to lessen their inherent stiffness, and thus offer less opposition ,to the light passage ,of the brush lthereover, .as

the latter deposits upon thewetted'gr'ass-andground surface the .fiowing second coat, thereby leaving a resulting strip, ribbon-for band, of .infinitely better and more uniform appearance and paint formation than. has been proved to be otherwise possible.

While not essential to the operation of this device, it has been found highly advantageous to provide a covering 13 of felt, or other suitable rangement and the felt once wetted, the further flow of marking material upon said wheel, although if at times more or less irregular, will tend to spread transversely across the felted area, thus adding to the evenness of the distribution of the marking material, and the consequent uniformity of the resulting line, band, or strip. Also, in order to prevent any lateral angular shifting of the brush 33 with respect to the trough 27, the lower forward edge portion of the latter may be provided with depending lugs 28 between which the brush is securely positioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A marker, comprising a tank having a pair of outlets, valves for controlling said outlets, a marker wheel adjacent to and adapted to receive fluid from one of said valves, a pivotally mounted trough adjacent to and. adapted to receive fluid from the other of said valves, a brush-like 'memb-er carried by said trough, and adapted to receive and discharge fluid from said trough over its upper surface, and common means to elevate said trough by a delayed action after closing the valve adjacent thereto. a

2. A marker, comprising a tank having outlets, a valve for each outlet, a marker wheel adapted to receive fluid from said tank through one of said outlets for deposit upon a surface, a brushvlike member adapted to trail upon said surface in alignment with said wheel and to receive fluid through the other outlet for discharge upon such surface over the upper surface of said member, and common means to control the elevation of said brush-like member and the valve adjacent thereto, whereby said member is lowered towards such surface to be marked before the adjacent valve is opened, and viceversa.

3. A marker, comprising a tubular sheet metal body portion, a hollow cast metal base closing the lower end of saidbody andforming a continuation thereof, longitudinally extending frame members securedto the opposite sides of said body and having angularly directed free end portions, spaced upright frame-members secured to and extending downwardly from medial points upon said first members, a shaft extending between the lower free end portions of said upright members, wheels carried by said shaft, bracing frame members extending between said longitudinally and upright frame members upon the op-' posite sides of said body, said base being provided with depending arms, a marker wheel carried by said arms, and a valve communicating with a discharge opening in said base and operative to control the flow of marking fluid upon the surface of said last-named wheel.

4. A marker, comprising a tubular, sheet metal body portion, a hollow cast metal base closing the lower end of said body and forming a continuation thereof, longitudinally extending frame members secured to the opposite sides of said body and having angularly directed free end por- 100 tions, spaced upright ,frame members secured to and extending downwardly from medial points upon said first members, a shaft extending between the lower free end portions of said upright members, wheels carried by said shaft, bracing frame members extending between said longitudinally and upright frame members upon the opposite sides of said body, said base being provided with depending arms, a marker wheel carried by said arms, a valve communicating with a discharge opening in said base and operative to control the flow of marking fluid upon the surface of said last-named wheel, a second discharge opening in said base, a valve to control the same, a trough pivotally carried by said base in alignment with said marker wheel, and common means to alter the elevation of said trough and control said last-named valve.

, GEORGE L. LANE. 

